A study of the history, production methods, and social and economic factors of the mass media. This course gives students an understanding of print media, broadcast media and public relations by analyzing the technical development and social impact of media.

Principles and practice in journalistic writing and related skills and theory, including style and conventions of journalistic writing, news judgment criteria, techniques for interviewing, ethical dimensions. Extensive writing in and out of class.

Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: keyboard fluency and either E120 or E220.

Theory, history, and practice of public relations in society; consideration of public relations programs, the process of influencing public opinion, the responsibilities of the public relations practitioner, ethics of public relations practice, and professional public relations organizations.

Offered spring semester only. Prerequisite: MC111.

Practical application of various media communications techniques.

Prerequisite: consent of mass communication coordinator.

Hands-on experience in identifying, pursuing, and writing news stories; principles and practice in writing various news-story types.

Offered fall semester only. Prerequisites: MC111 and MC201.

Exploration of and experience in the professional skills needed to produce news and public relations materials. Includes copy editing, grammar, style and headline writing; organization and structure of texts in news and public relations; computerized editing functions.

Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: MC111 and MC201. Students who take MC201 and MC301 must take them prior to, not concurrently with, MC308 unless permission is granted by instructor of MC308.

Prerequisites:

MC111 Introduction to Mass Communication

MC201 Reporting I

This is an advanced course in which state-of-the-art computer software is integrated with the fundamentals of publishing. Preparing computer files for printing.

Prerequisite: AR403.

Intensive writing in the forms characteristic of public relations; practice in writing news releases, fact sheets, newsletters, company periodicals, brochures, annual reports, and corporate advertising.

Offered fall semester only. Prerequisites: MC111, MC201 and MC230.

An examination of units of local and state government and their coverage in the news media; projects designed to familiarize students with the workings of governmental and quasi-governmental agencies.

Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: MC111, MC201 and MC301.

This course provides students with an understanding of terms and applications of both quantitative and qualitative public relations research, measurement and evaluation. Students learn what public relations practitioners do to research and evaluate PR campaigns, and then conduct research projects.

This course is usually taken in the junior or senior year, but must be taken prior to enrollment in MC443. Offered fall semester only. Prerequisites: MC230 and ST132.

This course provides students with an understanding of legal and ethical issues involving print and broadcast media and the Internet, including libel, obscenity, invasion of privacy, shielding of sources, freedom of the press, copyright, and government regulation.

This course must be taken in the junior or senior year. Offered fall semester only. Prerequisites: MC111 and MC201.

Public relations case studies in various organizations including the application of public relations techniques to representative problems and communication materials for various media are planned and prepared.

Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: MC111, MC230, MC314, and junior or senior standing.

An examination of contemporary ethical situations regarding the media professional’s role in determining guidelines to provide the public with relevant contextual material. Emphasis in this course is placed upon an understanding of the limits and guarantees of the First Amendment, the four major theories of the press and the practice of communications as part of a community.

Offered fall semester only. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

An opportunity for qualified juniors or seniors to participate in a field experience under the guidance and supervision of competent professionals.

Prerequisite: consent of mass communication coordinator.

Examinations of specific media-related issues and practices; such courses, when offered, are offered on the basis of student and faculty interest and availability of appropriate faculty to teach those courses.